Buying a House in Switzerland

Easier with professional help
Your many questions about the legal, financial and tax issues affecting buying a house in Switzerland can be answered by the professional advisors at Grether MacGeorge GmbH. You will find their long experience in dealing with the process and problems involved over many years give you an advantage when dealing with Swiss vendors, agents, architects and lenders, not all of whom have your interests at heart.

Buying a house in Switzerland can be cheaper than renting, but because of the small numbers of people who wish to buy here most houses are a once in a lifetime purchase, with no housing ladder. Land is very expensive as it’s in limited supply, and the materials and construction methods are of the highest quality so as to be earthquake proof and to meet the very strict Swiss house building regulations. All these factors make houses expensive in Switzerland.

Financing
You are unlikely to find a mortgage for more than 80% of the purchase price of the property, although there are schemes for special cases such as Dentists and Doctors or other professions with a kind of ‘protected employment’ status. House prices are very stable if not in decline in NW Switzerland, and so you should view house purchase as a lifestyle choice rather than as an investment decision.

Tax
Interest bearing debt can be set against your income in Switzerland, so this can give a reasonable level of tax efficiency. Owning a property outside of Switzerland can affect the level of tax relief you are eligible for in Switzerland, so it is always best to ask your professional advisor at Grether MacGeorge GmbH to check both the tax and legal situation at the same time.

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About Us

Our clients choose us because we have been specialising in providing expats in the Basel area with unbiased solutions to their Financial, Tax and Legal needs since 1999.

Our clients value the wealth of international knowledge and experience the company offers as an Independent and impartial advisor when they need competent help with their Swiss tax returns, investments, house purchase and mortgages, life insurance, pensions and retirement planning, saving for education costs, setting up and running a business in Switzerland, small to medium company accounting, payroll administration, or any of a wide range of other important areas vital to getting the most out of their new life in this sometimes very foreign country.